12-Year-Old Killed In 80-Car Pile-Up In Ohio

DEERFIELD TWP. (CINCINNATI) - The 12-year-old girl killed in an 80-plus car pile up on Interstate 275 Monday morning was identified as Sammy Reagan, a sixth grader at Columbia Elementary School in the Kings School District.

Counselors and psychologists are on hand at Columbia Elementary to help students and teachers deal with their grief. Sammy's twin brother Jack and younger brother Brian also are students at Columbia.

Hamilton County Sheriff's officials said Sammy was killed when a median cable snapped from being hit by cars. At the time, she had gotten out of the car she was riding in after it crashed.

Kings spokeswoman Linsday Braud said school officials were told that Sammy was on her way to Perfect North Slopes near Lawrenceburg, for a day of skiing with family and friends. Sammy was riding in the lead car with a babysitter and friends and her mother and brothers were directly behind them. Both cars were involved in the crash, Braud said.

Sammy was the daughter of Bill and Jill Reagan of South Lebanon.

Columbia Principal Shelley Detmer-Bogaert informed students abut Sammy's death in an early morning announcement

"I know this news makes all of us very sad and that is okay . Sammy was a wonderful young lady and we will miss her," Detmer-Bogaert told students.

Sammy was being remembered a a student who loved to play soccer and ski. While at South Lebanon Elementary, she was student council president.

Teacher Mike Luke described Sammy as a "rare student," one that he could tease and joke around with, and who "brought sunshine everywhere she went."

"I'm just jealous that Jesus is hanging out with her now and not me," Luke said.

Teacher Jessica Collette remembered Sammy as a "bubbly and bouncy" girl who was friends with everyone."

"She loved learning and persevered at everything," Collette said.

Funeral arrangements are pending. An autopsy was being performed at the Butler County Coroner's Office Tuesday.

The crash investigation is expected to take a week, Sheriff's officials said.

The wreck, which happened in the midst of quickly freezing roads and snow squalls, sent 20 people to area hospitals. Investigators were checking on their conditions Tuesday but said none of the injuries were life threatening.